Decoding The Script

by Markus Innocenti

Many books have been written about how to write a screenplay, but there's very little information on how to read a screenplay.

In this book, the first in The Filmmaker's Art series, screenwriter/director Markus Innocenti reveals how directors read, and how that reading allows them to build their vision for the film.

There are clues that lie, almost unnoticed, in every screenplay. Having the ability to identify and 'decode' those clues separates directors from every other person who reads the script, and points the way to engaging and powerfully cinematic filmmaking.

While Decoding The Script is an invaluable tool for directors, both emerging and established, it also allows producers, writers, actors and anyone with an interest in film to gain an insight into how directors approach their work.

143 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2016

About the author

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Markus Innocenti is a filmmaker and author, known for music videos with Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, Charlie Watts, and Aretha Franklin. His novels include ‘The Untold Crimes of Jack the Ripper' a four-part fictional recreation of the mystery surrounding the 1888 Whitechapel murders. ‘Untold Crimes’ was his first venture into historical fiction. He writes contemporary crime thrillers, notably a series featuring Irish American anti-hero, Findo Gask (‘I Walked A Crooked Mile’, ‘I Lay Awake In A Darkened Room’). His career in filmmaking led him to write ‘The Filmmaker’s Art’, a series of non-fiction titles, three of which have been published to date (‘Decoding The Script’, ‘Selecting For Success’, ‘Shooting The List’). He is co-author with Jaron Summers (‘The Failed Life of a Mormon Missionary’, ‘Safety Catch’) of ‘Churchill’s Gold’, a time-traveling YA adventure with a WW2 background.

Reviews

[Hannichka R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for any new filmmakers (and those wanting a refresher when considering their next move). Uniquely breaks down a script specifically for a director's eye; accessible for newcomers and engaging and rewarding for more experienced filmmaking readers.